A first ever middle level FCS  "unconference" conference is being planned for January 22, 2025.  A review of the new National middle level standards, middle level resource speakers, best practice break out rooms and teaching curriculum will be reviewed.  This virtual conference is the first annual event. Plan now to attend!

Materials will be added here after the event so check back for more!

Middle Level Standards Framework (NEW)

Look under "FCS Framework" for the Middle Level FCS Course Crosswalk and framework for middle level courses.  These documents provide content guidance with middle level and national FCS standard alignment all identified by recognized five-digit SCED codes.  These documents can assist in building  high quality courses which offer a seamless transition to secondary level FCS courses and FCS pathways. 

Family and Consumer Sciences Education has had national standards since the 1980's which were developed with input from industry professionals, post-secondary content experts, FCS teachers and state level specialists.  The national standards are considered the level of instruction and learning needed to be successful in life and people-centered work.

In 2024, these same groups came together to create middle level standards, or one might call these foundational skill set indicators.  All middle level FCS programs are encouraged to use them to create quality learning experiences and build the skills necessary for further instruction at the secondary level.   

Two areas strongly aligned with middle level FCS instruction are process skills (sometimes called employability skills or soft skills) which are instrumental in learning how to process and apply information learned.  And the second area is foundational content learning....the basics of each of the eight FCS areas: 1.0 Exploring Self and Careers; 2.0 Financial Literacy and Resource Management; 3.0 Foods, Food Science and Nutrition; 4.0 Hospitality and Culinary Arts; 5.0  Human Development, Caring and Education and Training; 6.0 Interpersonal and Family Relationships; 7.0 Interior Design and Housing; and 8.0 Textiles and Fashion. 

NOTE: The National FCS Standards can be accessed through the MT FCS Network! site under "Resources and Funding Support".  The Middle Level FCS Standards can be accessed through clicking on the graphic to the left or through this link. 

Advance CTE released a modern career clusters which has an updated cluster identification. In addition, they created a new graphic which is illustrated in the document to the left. 

In addition to this, they created a document which shares  the importance of Family and Consumer Sciences to this updated model. Family and Consumer Sciences is found across multiple clusters which indicates how we are the glue that pulls it all together. 

The graphic to the left also indicates where these connections are found. (Here is a link to a clean copy.)  Middle level CTE is vital to teaching the life literacy concepts of FCS that all people need for success in life and work.  The US Dept.  of Labor calls these "personal effectiveness skills" and state they are taught at home and in the community. FCS role to enhance these skills is so very important and also to teach them to students who did not learn them at home.

The career ready practices are the center of the model and is first learned at the middle level. This is easier for FCS as many of the opportunities to learn it are linked to life literacy. Explanations of the career ready practices and examples of how you can teach it are accessed through the graphic on the right. 

See this resource to expand understanding and knowledge related to employability skills.  Commonly called soft skills, these are vital to success in all careers, but especially for the people-centered careers. 

Thanks to Terron Torix, Broadview Schools who developed and shared this resource.